Mikyas Woldemichael was in the third grade when he found out that he would be moving to the United States. Overjoyed, he told all of his friends the great news. He recalls, “That was everyone’s dream back home—going to America”.

Mr. Woldemichael was born in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. In his youth, Mikyas loved to play soccer after school with his friends. However, his life in Ethiopia was cut short when his mother won the green card lottery. Together, the two of them moved to Minnesota.

Life in the U.S. was rough at first. From seeing an escalator for the first time to not knowing a word of English, adjusting took its time. After leaving all of his friends behind, Mikyas had to start from scratch. Mundane activities turned into difficult tasks; even telling people his name became a challenge.

After graduating from South High School, Mikyas enrolled at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities where he is working to earn a bachelor’s degree in Global Studies. Aside from being a student, Mr. Woldemichael contributes to his community. He coaches soccer for Minneapolis United and tutors local schoolchildren. In May of 2012, Mikyas founded the Ra’ey Youth Soccer Organization—a non-profit which provides soccer programs for the youth of Ethiopia. The program is open to any child who meets the minimum grade requirement. Mikyas currently resides in Minneapolis.